Whip Its: A Party Drug That Creates A Dangerous High

Whip-its are small metal canisters found in restaurants. They are used to recharge whipped cream cans. They can also be used to ingest compressed nitrous oxide, which is commonly referred to as “laughing gas.” This is the same compound used an anesthetic in dentistry and surgery. People who are looking to get high inhale the laughing gas because of its euphoric effects. It’s not at all uncommon to see many individuals in detox programs who have used whip-its on a chronic basis.

Other Street Names for Whip-It

Whip-its is the most common street name for this type of inhalant. Other names are:

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, organic nitrates may be sold to customers in small brown bottles. They may be labeled as “liquid aroma,” “leather cleaner,” “video head cleaner,” or “room odorizer” to disguise their true contents.

Since the laughing gas is used as an anesthetic, it tends to slow down the body’s functions when ingested. If it is inhaled in a high enough concentration, it will produce an effect which is similar to being intoxicated. The effects are very short-lived, lasting only for a few minutes.

Some users will extend their high over several hours by breathing in the gas repeatedly. Over time, the person will lose his or her inhibitions and will feel less in control. If the use continues for a long enough period, the person can slip into unconsciousness.

Sniffing highly concentrated inhalants can result in heart failure or death. In some cases, a fatality can result from a single episode of sniffing whip-its by a healthy young person.

Find Help for Whip-Its Addiction

If someone you care has been using inhaling these types of chemicals and you are concerned that he or she has developed a whip-its addiction, extended treatment may be necessary to deal with the problem. This issue is not something you can afford to ignore.